The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 11 units of 20FT containers which contained raw and sawn Timber.
The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya who disclosed this to Journalists at the AP Moller Terminals, Apapa on 27th November, 2024 said acting on credible intelligence, a combined team of the Lilypond Export Command officers and officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) following the discharge of some export bound containers at the barge area of Apapa Port on October 11, 2024 intercepted and detained these containers suspected to be used for smuggling.
Comptroller Odusanya recalled that on 1st November , 2024, the Command scheduled the suspected containers for hundred percent physical examination and they were found to contain raw and unprocessed timber which contravenes Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET).
He informed that going by the provisions of Sections 148,149 and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the detained containers have been converted to seizures.He stated that while culprits behind this criminal act are yet to be apprehended, it is expected that the seizures serve as deterrent to any person or export trader planning to perpetuate similar offence.
The Lilypond Export Command Controller assured that the long arms of the law would catch up with anyone that dares the Command’s resolve as he urged Small, Medium and Large-scale exporters to take advantage of the easy processes and window of opportunities provided by the Federal Govemment to encourage export trade.
In line with the existing inter agency collaboration between the NCS and other sister organisations, the Controller handed the seizures to officials of the Forestry Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
An official of the ministry, Mrs Busayo Abimbola, who represented the Director of Forestry and received the seizures commended the NCS for its diligence in detecting such smuggling activities.
She added that her department will continually collaborate with customs to prevent illegal deforestation activities and safeguard the nation’s environment and economy.
“This command is dedicated to overseeing export trade and has brought a lot of improvements in support of the Federal Government drive to promote non-oil export.
“It is important, I reiterate that we have a resolve not to sacrifice compliance on the altar of trade facilitation as we shall always prevent the export of any consignment that run in conflict with the laws of our country. It is in the light of this that the command notifies the general public of its latest fight against smuggling and defiance to extant Customs laws and regulations.
“Particulars of the Eleven containers are TRLU9354677, MRKU9991028, TCLU2179830, MSKUS051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2543324, MSKU3929849, MSKU7323470, MSKU5953248, GAOU2550990.
” This underscores the CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling, even in the area of export. It goes further to confirm our alertness with the support of other units within the service and sister govanment agencies to detect and prevent criminal activities in the area of export.
“We shall continue to engage our partners and stakeholders as mandated by the CGC following the theme of the World Customs Organization for 2024 and that of the recently held 2024 Comptroller General of Customs Conference” he said .
